Gridiron



M. A. FORD.

GRIDIRON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1920.

Patented July 192%..

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. GRIDIRON.

T at? whom it mag concern lde it known that l, NIATTHEVV A. Form, a citiaen oi the United States, residing at lilocktord in the county of Winnebago and tltateoi llllinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Gridirons, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention pertains to gridirons, especiallyofthe class adapted for outdoor use for broiling over an open fire as when camping.orouting. i p U Theprimary object is to PI'OVlClG a gridiron of generally improved construction and which shall be collapsible so that it will oecu y but little space during transit. In this regard I have aimed to provide a casinawhich houses the gridiron in collapsed form and which serves as a handle for supthe grid elements of which are constructed ina simple and novel manner to permlt ready collapsibility and to enable production at acoruparatively low cost.

Ettill; another object is to provide a gridiron of either the single or double grid type, in the former of which the grid is supported by legs upon the ground and in the latter the double grids are held by a handle. Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes i better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connertion withthe accompanying drawing in which i a p p i p y i ll igure 1 is a perspective view of a pair oi? gridsinf disassociated relation embodyinn. my improvements;

Fig.2 is a side view on a reduced scale of a 1gridiron constructed according to. my 1mfig. 3, a detailed perspective view of one ofthelongitudinally tapered bars employed in each grid; i 4,, a d tailed perspective view of the pivotedend of one of the said tapered bars;

Fig.5, a sideview of a grid, collapsed; d: i l

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the casing with I the gridiron in collapsed condition therein. i

As mentioned above, my invention contemplates the provision of a gridiron of such novel construction as to permit of its Specification of Letters Patent.

And the ob'ect is to provide a gridiron Patented July 18, 1920.

Application filed February 10, 1920.. Serial No. 357.583.

being; collapsed into a very compact bundle and placed in a small casing for purpose of transportation. This casing serves the additional function of handle for supporting theigridiron when in. use.

The gridiron is composed generally stated of two grids, or grid plates, practically identical in. construction.

Henna-a detailed description of one will sutiice. Each grid plate is composed of a pair of longitudinally tapered bars 7, in the present instance preferably formed of sheet metal pressed to channel shape and tapered in the manner shown plainly in Fig. 3. To one emlotcach bar 7 is pivotally attached at 8 anend portion 9 of a channel shape similar in dimensions to the adjacent end of the bar 7. Upon these bars 7 is mounted a plurality of crossbars 10 each of which is slidable lengthwise o t andnponthe tapered bars to and from an operative position. The end crossbar 11 on each pivoted end portion 9 is fixed with regard thereto against a sliding movement and thus serves as an end abutment to prevent displacement ot the cross bars from this end of the tapered bar portions 9. The crossbars 10 are slidable upon the tapered bars toward the narrow end thereof to a compact position such. as illustrated in Fig. in which all of the crossbars are disposed entirely upon the pivoted end portions 9. This permits the tapered bars 7 to be swung inwardly upon the pivots 8 to a compact position in parallel relation to the bars 10, as shown plainly in Fig. To open up a grid plate the bars 7 are swung. our.intoparallel relation, and, holding the cross bars 11 uppermost, the remaining bars are dropped to positions limited by the size of their respective o enings 12 in engagement with the tapered bars 7.. Theopenings 12in the different crossbars are graduated in size, those farthest from the bar 11 being the largest in size so that the crossbars will be permitted to slide only a limited distance toward the larger ends of thetapered bar 7 thus spacing the crossbars evenly as shown in Fig. 1.

Suitable means is now provided for holding the grids in spaced relation and for permitting convenient. detachment of one grid from another and also for permitting attachmentotthegrids at different distances 1 upper grid will be associated with the lower one by suitable connection of the ends 17 in the slots 16 for holding themeat or other foodstuffs firmly between the grids.

I have now aimed to provide a handle for supporting the grids and which will also serve as a casing for housing them when not in use. This casing is preferably of a telescopic construction comprising parts 18 and 19. As shown in Fig. 6, part 18 is attached to slide into and out of part 19, the latter being rectangular in cross section and the-former being preferably open along one side'as at 20 to permit quick and easy reception of the collapsed grids. The grids when collapsed in the manner shown in Fig. 5 are of such dimensions that they may be disposed side by side in the casing section 18, and it will be obvious that this section may be inserted telescopingly in section 19 and thus completely housed therein. When the grids are ready for use, the casing section 18 may be connected to a bar of the intermediate crossbars 10 of the lower grid in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, the narrow end of the casing section 18 is shaped to fittingly engage over the ends of the crossbars'lO in such manner as to effect a substantial supporting connection between these parts; When the casing, section 18 is so associated with the lower grid, the other section19 may be fitted on to the outer end of thesection 18, .in the manner shown in Fig. 2 thus providing an effective and substantial handle for'supporting and holding the grids in use. It will beobvious from the foregoing that gridirons of this character are adapted for holding a steak or any meat or other foodstuffs overan open fire for broiling, also that the gridiron may be very quickly disassembled and folded into a very compact relation in the'casing.

In the event that only one of the grids is to be used asa stationary gridiron to be supported over a 'fire from the ground the legs 13 will serve for supporting this grid.

It will, of course,'be understood that these legs may be of any suitable length, or if desired, extensions may be provided so that the grid may be supported at the proper elevations above the fire, or if desired, a

separate grid of the construction described above, that is, collapsible, might be provided with suitable supporting legs, and thus serve-as an independent grid to be supported over the fire from the ground, as distinguished from being held by means of a handle.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the principle and objects of my invention, and while I have illustrated and described but a single practical embodiment thereof, it should be understood that various changes might be 'made in the construction and arran ement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in which-- I claim:

1. The combination of a pair of collapsible grids and a sectional telescopic receptacle shaped to receive and house the grids in collapsed form and to serve as a handle for the grids when in operative form.

2. The combination of a gridiron the bars of which are collapsible into compact relationand a casing shaped to receive and inclose the collapsed gridiron and to constitute a handle therefor when in operable form.

3. A gridiron comprising a pair of longitudinally tapered bars in parallel spaced relation, a plurality of cross bars slidable lengthwise of and upon said tapered bars from a closely related position at one end thereof to spaced positions limited by the taper of the bars, and legs for supporting the bars in a horizontally disposed position.

4. A gridiron comprising a air of sectional longitudinally tapered Ears articulated adjacent to one end, a plurality of cross bars slidable lengthwise of and upon said bars and being held in spaced relation by the'taper thereof, said cross bars being slidable onto said end sections and the tapered sections of the bars being foldable into close relation to the cross bars.

5. A gridiron comprising a pair of sectional longitudinally tapered bars having pivoted end sections; cross bars slidable lengthwise of and upon said tapered bars and held in spaced relation by the taper thereof, said cross bars being movable onto said pivoted ends whereupon the tapered bar sections may be folded into close relation to the cross bars, and legs attached to the corner portions of the gridiron.

6. A gridiron comprising, in combination, a pair of collapsible grids including cross bars movable from compact parallel relation to open, spaced relation and a casing shaped to receive the grids in collapsed 'relation and to detachably engage certain of the cross bars when in open relation for supporting the grids.

' 7. A gridiron comprising a pair of grids each adapted to be collapsed, means for securing the grids in spaced relation, and a casing for housing the grids when collapsed and shaped to detachably connect to one of emme w the grids for supporting them inoperative be folded into close relation to the cross 10 relation. bars.

8. A gridiron, including a pair of longi 9. The combination of a pair of collapsitudinally tapered bars, an end section ble grids, and EL casing for housing the grids pivoted to each bar, cross bars slidable when in collapsed form and constituting a lengthwise of and upon the tapered bars handle for supporting the grids in operative 15 from spaced positions limited by the taper i form.

thereof to a compact position on said end sections, whereupon said tapered hers may MATTHEW A. FORD. 

